GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Former Genesee County Road Commission Manager-Director John Daly will receive a $100,000 buyout in exchange for his resignation, according to a severance agreement approved last week.

The six-page agreement, requested by MLive-The Flint Journal through the Freedom of Information Act, details the conditions under which Daly left the county after 18 years on the job and with about 20 months remaining on an employment contract.

Daly has declined to comment on the severance since the Road Commission voted 4-1 Friday, Feb. 9, to sever ties with him without a public explanation.

The manager-director will remain on a paid vacation that started this week until April 2, according to the agreement, and his salary and benefits will end at that time.

Road Commission Chairwoman Shirley Kautman-Jones declined this week to discuss the reasons for the buyout, and the agreement says only that road commissioners "wish to make a change in the administrative leadership" of the agency.

"Mr. Daly is willing to cooperate with the board to insure (sic) a smooth transition to a new leadership team," the severance says.

The agreement says Daly intends to pursue his retirement and other potential professional opportunities.

Although he worked nearly two decades at the Road Commission, the last several months at the agency had been rocky for Daly and the agency.

Members of the county Board of Commissioners criticized the commission and its direction and the condition of local roads.

David Miller, a road commissioner, resigned after claiming he was pressured by county commissioners to replace Daly.

Another road commissioner -- Cloyce L. Dickerson -- attempted to deliver a termination letter to Daly in November, but the letter had never been agreed to buy the four other members of the commission, which is responsible for more than 1,500 miles of county roads and bridges.

Until a permanent manager-director is named, the agency is being run by two administrators on staff -- Anthony Branch, the director of maintenance, and Fred Peivandi, director of engineering.